First of all let’s state the obvious: There is no one specific type of class/teacher/studio that works for everyone. Some people like a more laid back approach to tapping while others want to be pushed to their limits. Some people like to be guided in fine detail and others are happy to just kind of follow along and pick up a bit here and there. Fortunately there are some general rules of thumb to follow when choosing a studio/class/teacher.
Rule #1
Find a studio with a well-established tap program.
How do you do that? Call them up and ask what tap classes they offer and what levels and ages they teach. A studio that only offers two tap classes a week total and only for little kids may not be the best place to do your training. Now I know some of you in small towns may not have a choice, but if you do, try to find the studio that offers the most tap classes and has the highest levels. If you find a studio with more than one advanced tap class a week you have just struck gold!
Now I know most of you are beginners, but you want a teacher that knows what they’re doing. A teacher who teaches higher levels usually knows their material well enough to teach beginners correct technique. If you’re an adult tap dancer see if any of your local studios have an adult performing or competing group. At the very least these groups offer a supportive community to share in your passion for tap dancing.
Rule #2
Find a teacher who specializes in tap.
Sadly there just aren’t enough good tap teachers to go around. Far too often someone who took tap a long time ago or who danced in a show that had a little tap section gets recruited to teach tap at a local dance studio. Now I applaud anyone who steps up to the plate to try to share tap dancing with others, but if at all possible try to find someone who specializes in tap. If you look at a studio’s website and see the same teacher for jazz, ballet, hip hop, and tap it may not be a good sign (there are always exceptions). I’m not saying tap teachers can’t teach other styles of dance. They can and do. But if you find a teacher that ONLY teaches tap, there’s a really good chance you’re going to get some outstanding training.
Most studios have little bios (mini resumes of a sort) of their teachers on their website. Look at the tap teacher’s bio. Are most of the credits listed for tap performances and accomplishments or does it focus more on musical theatre and commercials? Ideally you want someone who has done something specifically tap-related. Even something as simple as “Susie has led a weekly tap club jam session for the last three years.” is better than having nothing tap-related.
Rule #3
Find a teacher that’s open and welcoming.
A tap class can easily become a tight knit group. Especially if the teacher and students have been working together for a long time (sometimes many years). There is a certain flow and unstated understanding that everyone shares. Having someone new in class can break that flow for everyone. So when trying a new class give it at least a couple of weeks so you can get used to how things are done and how things flow. Usually someone will introduce themselves to you after class and sometimes even offer to help catch you up. Sadly some teachers/classes don’t really want someone new to join and break their flow. If you are getting a sense that you are not wanted there don’t hesitate to leave and find somewhere else where you’re welcome.
Rule #4
Find a teacher who appreciates questions and answers them well.
This is a big one. In fact this may be the single most telling attribute with regard to whether you have a good teacher or not. A good teacher welcomes questions, answers them well, and uses them as an opportunity to teach the entire class something important. If you take from a teacher who is annoyed by your questions, move on to someone else. And don’t blame yourself thinking that maybe you are asking stupid questions, you’re not. Whenever you start something new there are going to be so many things you don’t know and it’s natural to ask about them.
Any teacher that makes you feel like you should already know what they know is not a good teacher. Also keep an eye out for how they answer “why” questions. If the answer is always “well that’s just how we do it” or “that’s the way I was taught” be wary. Those answers are okay now and then, but if they never have a valid explanation for you other than that, they probably just don’t know. For instance let’s say they tell you “don’t point your toes during a pullback”. Now that is some good advice, but if you ask them “why” and they respond “Because you just don’t” well that’s not a good sign. A better answer is because pointing your toes during a pullback causes them to drag against the floor resulting in a scraping sound instead of a clean tap sound.
No teacher has the answer to every question, but a good teacher will be up front about it. They’ll also go try to find the answer and have it for you by the next class.
Rule #5
Find a teacher that’s not afraid to correct you.
Some teachers will just have you do steps while they walk around and watch without ever giving you corrections. This is generally not a good thing. Unless you are just a perfect tap dancer right out of the box (I’ve never seen one of those in over 30 years of teaching), you should be getting corrections here and there to help you execute the steps correctly. Often a teacher that fails to correct you either doesn’t care enough to do it, or doesn’t have the knowledge to tell you what to do differently. When you do get a correction it should be as detailed as possible. “That just sounds off” is not a helpful correction. What sounds off? What should you do to correct it? A better correction would be “your second flap is starting too early so you need to lift your left foot higher before you begin that flap”.
With those 5 rules of thumb, you should have a decent chance of finding a good studio/class/teacher to tap with!